Click to view, and know that we are just trying to call it as we see it, not as we necessarily want it. Will and Bridget in particular are trying to stave off disappointment. |
As a scatter-brained and unfocused Constitution/political science junkie (unlike the Chief, who is a focused, trained Constitution/political science junkie), I just know that if more people were educated in the political processes of our country, including that pesky Electoral College and its ways, we'd be better off. (There are a lot of other things I would encourage knowing if I could concentrate: How a bill is passed, what forms of government we have at the various levels, how a candidate is chosen… all sorts of fun things.)
For a printable blank Electoral College map, go here. (I found that it prints bigger if you right click and print rather than go to your own printer dialog box.)*
Combine coloring and shouting! (Why does my family shout about these things?**) Make sure your kids know that the popular vote isn't what matters! Finally get it about that pesky EC!
For a round-up of the latest in polling, trends in swing states, and past histories, go here. [updated: Here is this year's map — if you look just above the map, you will see boxes that let you do your own or go with RealClearPolitic's projections.]
This site also includes links for maps of the races in the House and Senate, and plenty of other junkie-worthy material. Learn American geography and civics all at once! Fire up your biggest computer screen! Get out your crayons!
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. What if neither gets to that number?
Is an elector bound to cast his vote as the people in the state decide?
Can you watch your electors vote? (I kind of want to do this!!)
Will is making us pick our count now — deciding on swing states and doubling down. Then on election night we will be checking to see how we did!
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*Pro tip: I haven't found a blank map that shows that Nebraska and Maine each have a split in their electoral votes, 4 + 1 and 3 + 1, respectively. In the past it has mattered; this time unlikely to. Still. Write it in the margin of the paper.
**We all agree, by the way. Makes the shouting… Inherent? Superfluous? Unfathomable?
@quiltbabe says
I see you are split on which way Wisconsin will swing – well, you've got that right! At least we hope fervently it will be “right” and red, for the first time in a long, long time. Heavy early voting here.
Gwenny says
Here's a great blog post on why the electoral college matters!
http://www.imaginativeconservative.org/2012/11/un…
Lauren says
This is such a great resource. Thank you for sharing!
Elizabeth says
Sometimes it's nice to be able to let emotion out in a safe place. Maybe this is why you shout? I never shout at people with whom I disagree, but I can get a little loud at home. It's better that way, I think. 🙂
Kari says
I get irritated about the electoral college….I understand why it was important back in the day, but if I were in charge, I would go popular vote all the way. It really irks me that my vote basically doesn't count because I vote the opposite way in a strongly______________ voting state with few electoral votes.
Rachel says
How do you always know what I need to read? How?
akasleen says
I did not know that any state split its EC votes. Off to find out more… Thanks for the education!
akasleen says
Found this for further explanation:
“With the district method, a state divides itself into a number of districts, allocating one of its state-wide electoral votes to each district. The winner of each district is awarded that district’s electoral vote, and the winner of the state-wide vote is then awarded the state’s remaining two electoral votes. ” from http://archive.fairvote.org/e_college/me_ne.htm
Barbara says
Leila,
Love your resources. Thanks for sparking interest!
I am in Ohio, for better or for worse.
According to Ohio revised code, the electoral college in Ohio is obligated to vote according to the party that nominated them ( although they are not prosecuted for voting contrary). What I don't understand is that although the revised code states the EC in Ohio must vote according to party affiliation, 48 states (Ohio being one of them) apparently cast all their votes according to the popular vote in their state. Can't have it both ways, but which way does it go? I know a lot of people think the EC is unfair. If a state is so split, like Ohio, why should all the electoral votes go for the party that (maybe just) barely won the vote? Should not each get half? It sure would matter in the long run.
If you or the chief can answer my question, I'd be most appreciative (question being, though more than half of the states have specific laws regarding how the electoral college of that state may vote, 48 of the states vote according to winner-takes-all basis — not according to their state law. Why? How?)
_Leila says
Barbara , I think that same site will answer your question. Go here http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html
:http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html
:http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html
The point being that when you vote, you are voting for the electors. Whoever wins the popular vote in the state wins the electors. It's the way our founders chose to balance the popular vote with the representation of the states. Remember, our federal government is meant to be a collection of states, not an aggregate of individuals. It's too big for that– we'd be lost and have no voice! We are already experiencing that….
Barbara says
many people who dislike the EC, I don't feel represented by it — I have no voice unless my candidate wins my state. Ohio is so split that the winner-takes-all rule completely eliminates my vote if the other candidate wins the majority. In Ohio that might be by a tenth of a percentage point. 🙁
At this point all we can do is pray hard.